POCKET BEACHES
There are a number of small beaches I like to call ‘pocket beaches’ scattered around Victoria. They are really tiny but this usually means they are fairly quiet – usually only known to the local neighborhood. Here are a few you might want to try:
1. Queen Alexandra Cove Beach – 2400 Arbutus Rd. Park in hospital parking lot. A small, pebble/sand beach reached via stairway.
2. Telegraph Bay – 4040 Telegraph Bay Rd. Small, pebble/sand beach – flat access.
3. Balmacarra Beach – 4588 Balmacarra Rd (Mt. Doug), a small stretch of pebble/rock and some sand beach via steep stairs. Parking can be challenging.
4. Hollydene Beach – Hollydene Pl. Small, sandy beach via steep stairway. Parking can be challenging.
5. Arbutus Cove Park – Arbutus Cove Lane – Gordon Head
Open space and naturalistic area with trails to the cove. Arbutus Cove is sheltered with rocky sections and sandy beach.
Balmacarra Beach is not sandy. It’s almost all rocks and pebbles unless the tide is extremely low. You may want to adjust your description.
Will do. Thanks for that. Sometimes I rely on others to help as I haven’t been everywhere myself.
linda
Hi Linda
Last summer one of these small beaches (Arbutus or Telegraph?) had a sign warning about a nearby outfall. The water was very dirty looking. Since moving here I have tried to figure out where the sewage outfalls are, and where it’s safe to swim but I get conflicting messages. I understand the city only checks the water at the main beaches. Any ideas? Thanks!
Hi Cassandra,
As far aw sewage outfalls go … Victoria now has a sewage treatment plant so there are no more outfalls – so the warning was probably an old one. The only thing still possibly going into the ocean is storm drains and lake outflows. The lakes are checked for blue-green algae and fecal coliform … not sure they test the ocean water for that. For a definitive answer tho, I suggest you contact the city of Victoria directly and ask them the same question. This are only my understanding of the matter.
Cheers!
linda
Hi Linda,
Thank you for your information on pocket Beach parks open to the public. I am enjoy reading the comments.
Would you know why the public can no longer access Gordonhead East Park?
https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Parks~Recreation~and~Community~Services/Documents/Parks~Parks~Trails~and~Amenities~Find~a~Park/Gordon-Head-East-Park.pdf
I wrote to Saanich Parks a few months ago but did not get a response.
Thank you for looking into this.
Cheers,
Diana